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Date Posted: 22:25:19 10/18/02 Fri
Author: TeacherBoy
Subject: A few agreements and comments (spoliers for 1.4)
In reply to: Scroll 's message, "Who wrote Ep 1.4? Also, my review (spoilers 1.4, BtVS 7.4, AtS 4.1)" on 19:54:06 10/18/02 Fri

Thanks, Scroll, for posting this. I was all set to write up a long review, and you go and make a lot of points for me. So instead, I'll make a few random comments.

First off, a few general impressions. I'm not sure if I would say it was better or worse than the others. Actually, I don't think that my brain is wired that way. I think I just tend to see the good in something. I've noticed that while lurking at the Buffy board. With this ep, I laughed out loud more times during this ep than any of the others, even though it might not have been as intense as some others.

On Religion and Faith (no, not *that* Faith)

I saw the theme of this episode as "What happens when an individual is examined in the context of a larger faith?" In the most direct examination of this theme, the Shepard and River battle over the Bible and it's meaning. River sees the problem as a logical construct (Fred, anyone? Anyone?) The Bible does not make logical sense to her, so she begins to cut it up and re-create it. Jayne comes to see himself as a savior of an oppressed people. When the 'real' Jayne is brought forth, he is forced to examine himself in the context of a 'Jayne-based faith', and finds himself wanting, just as River finds her individual, logical interpretation of the Bible wanting. And what is resolved in the end? Nothing, of course. Moral ambiguity reigns supreme.

A personal note. I think this is the clearest sign yet of Joss wanting to examine his own athiesm in a world of religion. As an athiest myself, Scroll, the implications of River's scene with Book did not bother me, but when she was cutting up The Bible, even I got the willies. It just goes to show you the cultural power of religion. :)

* I was happy to see that River has both a voice and a personality. Very nice. Her interactions with Book did more in this episode to show what kind of a person she is than in the previous three eps combined.

* Simon is quickly becoming my favorite character. He is on such an intersting journey. Trying to help his sister, trying to fit in with the crew, trying to figure out what he is supposed to do with Kaylee...I always lean forward when he comes onscreen, because I have no idea what is going to happen to poor Simon next.

* One of the criticisms I heard most often during the first several weeks was the fact that there were too many characters, and that they would not be able to interact with each other to an effective degree. I wonder what people think now. I have no problem whatsoever with the interaction as of now. To me it is just a non-issue.

* Favorite lines...

Kaylee: Have good sex!

*

Simon: No, *this* must be what going mad feels like.

*

Book: River, why don't you just come out of there?

River: No, too much hair.

*

Jayne: You guys had a riot...on account of me? (sniff, sniff)


Lot's to like in this episode. Hope there's more to come.

TeacherBoy

OK, one more thing. I know I'm just being a guy here, but if I have to lose my virginity to anyone in the known universe, and I find out it is going to be Inara, I damn well am not going to be moping about how I don't feel any different. Talking about finding God...

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Replies:

  • The Gospel According to Jayne (spoilers for "Jaynestown") -- Rob, 23:17:24 10/18/02 Fri
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